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The California Academy of Sciences\u2019 Executive Director Scott\u00a0Sampson is pictured in a Chronicle file photo. Sampson announced he\u00a0will resign after nearly seven years leading the Golden Gate Park museum and research institution on Thursday, May 14, 2026.<\/p>\n
Liz Hafalia\/Liz Hafalia \/ The Chronicle<\/p>\n
Scott\u00a0Sampson, the executive director of the California Academy of Sciences<\/a>, will step down this month after nearly seven years leading one of San Francisco\u2019s most prominent cultural institutions through the pandemic, a prolonged financial strain and a recent round of layoffs.<\/p>\n The academy announced Thursday that Sampson will resign effective May 29 and remain in an advisory capacity through June 30. The board of trustees appointed Amber Mace, the academy\u2019s managing director and chief strategy officer, as interim executive director while it prepares to launch an international search for a permanent successor.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been a privilege to serve the academy and work alongside such talented staff, scientists and educators,\u201d\u00a0Sampson said in a statement. \u201cI\u2019ve decided that it is the right time to step aside.\u201d<\/p>\n Sampson, a paleontologist and science communicator who joined the academy in 2019<\/a>, said he plans to focus on completing a new book entitled \u201cSuperbloom\u201d before deciding on his \u201cnext chapter,\u201d according to a statement.<\/p>\n Financial strain and layoffs preceded leadership change<\/p>\n California Academy of Sciences will lay off 55 workers and cut programs as rising costs, declining tourism and weaker philanthropy deepen deficits.<\/p>\n Tim Griffith\/California Academy of Sciences<\/p>\n The leadership change comes more than two weeks after the Golden Gate Park museum and research institution said it would lay off 53 employees \u2014 about 9% of its workforce \u2014 and make additional program cuts to address what leaders described as a structural budget deficit as attendance, tourism and philanthropy remain uneven in the post-pandemic period.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n